LGBT reviews and ramblings since 2006

Entries tagged with rainbow awards 2015

More than 450 books, almost 170 judges, all over the world, and many, many submissions, from indie publishers, from mainstream publishers and a lot of self-published authors. And, to me more important of everything, we raised more than 17.300 dollars donated to LGBT charities:

Best Bisexual Romance1. Kneel, Mr. President by Lauren GallagherRunners Up:2. The Harem Master by Megan Derr 3. A Hard Ride Home by Emory Vargas 4. A Year in the Life by Cat Grant 5. Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

Best Gay Young Adult1. A Scout is Brave by Jay Jordan Hawke Runners Up:2. Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan 3. The Glass House by Suki Fleet 4. Love Spell by Mia Kerick 5. rock by Anyta Sunday

Best Bisexual Fiction1. Summer Symphony by Brandon Shire Runners Up:2. I’ll Always Miss You by Raine O’Tierney3. Fox-Hat and Neko by August Li4. The Inheritor (The Marketplace #6) by Laura Antoniou 5. The Tide of War by Lori A. Witt

Best Gay Historical Romance1. Semper Fi by Keira Andrews Runners Up:2. A Fashionable Indulgence by KJ Charles 3. Undercover Blues by Chris Quinton 4. The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane 5. When Skies Have Fallen by Debbie McGowan

Best Lesbian Contemporary General Fiction1. The Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde Runners Up:2. A Small Country about to Vanish by Victoria Avilan 3. Everything by Carole Wolf 4. Sandcastles by Suzie CarrAll We Lack by Sandra MoranTo Love Again by B.L. Clark5. Turning for Home by Caren J. Werlinger

The William Neale Award for Best Gay Contemporary Romance1. Beneath the Stain by Amy Lane Runners Up:2. Knight of Ocean Avenue by Tara Lain 3. The Butterfly King by Edmond ManningWe Found Love by Allison Cassatta & Kade Boheme4. A New Man by P.D. Singer5. The Deep of the Sound by Amy LaneTrust the Focus by Megan Erickson 6. Arctic Absolution by Lynn Kelling 7. Everything Changes by Melanie Hansen8. Bowl Full of Cherries by Raine O’TierneyIn the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish9. Innocence by Suki Fleet 10. A Restored Man by Jaime Reese

Best Lesbian Debut1. Barring Complications by Blythe Rippon Runners Up:2. All the little Moments by G Benson 3. To Love Again by B.L. Clark 4. Wishbone by Elaine Burnes 5. The Caphenon by Fletcher DeLancey 6. Never Too Late by Julie Blair 7. When It Raynes by C.D. CainThe Surrender by Terias McKlay 8. The Paths of Marriage by Mala Kumar9. A Story of Now by Emily O'Beirne10. No Thru Road by Linda M. Vogt

Best Bisexual Book1. Summer Symphony by Brandon Shire Runners Up:2. Kneel, Mr. President by Lauren Gallagher3. The Harem Master by Megan Derr 4. I’ll Always Miss You by Raine O’Tierney 5. Fox-Hat and Neko by August Li 6. The Inheritor (The Marketplace #6) by Laura Antoniou7. The Tide of War by Lori A. Witt8. A Hard Ride Home by Emory Vargas 9. A Year in the Life by Cat Grant 10. Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

Best Lesbian Book1. Girl Sex 101 by Allison MoonRunners Up:2. Making a Comeback by Julie Blair 3. Barring Complications by Blythe Rippon 4. An American Queer: The Amazon Trail by Lee LynchThe Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde5. A Small Country about to Vanish by Victoria Avilan 6. Under a Falling Star by Jae 7. Medusa: A Dark Victorian Penny Dread by Elizabeth WatasinNo Good Reason by Cari Hunter8. Everything by Carole WolfRabbits of the Apocalypse by Benny Lawrence9. All the little Moments by G Benson10. Sandcastles by Suzie CarrSeason's Meetings by Amy DunneAll We Lack by Sandra MoranTo Love Again by B.L. Clark

In a town as small as Tyson, CA, everybody knew the four brothers with the four different fathers—and their penchant for making good music when they weren't getting into trouble. For Mackey Sanders, playing in Outbreak Monkey with his brothers and their friends—especially Grant Adams—made Tyson bearable. But Grant has plans for getting Mackey and the Sanders boys out of Tyson, even if that means staying behind.Between the heartbreak of leaving Grant and the terrifying, glamorous life of rock stardom, Mackey is adrift and sinking fast. When he's hit rock bottom, Trav Ford shows up, courtesy of their record company and a producer who wants to see what Mackey can do if he doesn't flame out first. But cleaning up his act means coming clean about Grant, and that's not easy to do or say. Mackey might make it with Trav's help—but Trav's not sure he's going to survive falling in love with Mackey.Mackey James Sanders comes with a whole lot of messy, painful baggage, and law-and-order Trav doesn't do messy or painful. And just when Trav thinks they may have mastered every demon in Mackey's past, the biggest, baddest demon of all comes knocking.

No one does angst like Amy Lane. At times this book was almost too much--even for someone like me who adores angst--but it's impossible to put down. The characters are perfectly flawed, so loveable you feel every shred of their pain and hope and loss. A story that will stay with me forever, for sure.

This book pulled me in from the very beginning, and I almost felt like I was there.

Intense long gripping story with a plot that continued to evolve throughout the story. Interesting characters. Looked at sad side of life as well as the good side.

Amy Lane's dark contemporary stories always gut me -- this one was no different, and it wasn't even one of the darker ones. Incredible characters, roiling emotions, and rock and roll! When you finish an Amy Lane book, you feel like you really know all her characters personally (and for some of the less pleasant ones, that's not entirely comfortable!).

Absolutely loved every word, Amy Lane at her finest!

Coming of age story. As expected from this author, very well written and interactive. A song of life, love and friendship.

A story too secret, too terrifying—and too shockingly intimate—for Victorian eyes.A note to the EditorDear Henry,I have been Simon Feximal’s companion, assistant and chronicler for twenty years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide.You have asked me often for the tale of our first meeting, and how my association with Feximal came about. I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted, and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.Robert CaldwellSeptember 1914"The Caldwell Ghost" and “Butterflies” are previously published short stories. The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal continues and completes Robert Caldwell and Simon Feximal’s story.

Well rounded characters and I enjoyed how their relationship was told through the cases they worked. I loved the world building and that I could picture everything as it was playing out, almost like I was watching a movie.

Another perfect read. A collection of short stories that piece together a lifetime relationship. Sad and sweet, scary and funny, all stories are different and entertaining.

This was literally the best thing I read all year.

This is a charming (if sometimes harrowing) homage to Victorian occultists and its resulting pulp fiction. KJ Charles's mastery of the vernacular of this period is remarkable, as always. Ever wonder what would have happened if Holmes and Watson had been lovers rather than colleagues, and if Holmes's weakness had not been cocaine but the result of arcane tampering? Here's the answer. (In Feximal's world, the Hound of the Baskervilles would have truly been a giant spectral hound.)

I adored this book which hearkened back to the days of Victorian England, and the poignancy of two men investigating to the best of their abilities. The irony--and hope--at the end undid me, and I have spent lots of fruitless--if wonderful time--imagining the ending that I'm sure we all wanted for our heroes. I did not realize until recently that parts of this book were released independently, as individual adventures, and that knowledge only made me love it more. It's like Sherlock Holmes, paranormal style, and I cannot praise it enough.

Girl Sex 101 is a sex-ed book like no other, offering helpful info for ladies and lady-lovers of all genders and identities, playful and informative illustrations on each page, and over 100 distinct voices, plus a hot narrative that shows you how to put the info to good use! Learn how to navigate the twists and turns of female sexuality, with special guidance from thirteen guest sex educators including Nina Hartley, Sex Nerd Sandra, Jiz Lee, Tristan Taormino, Julia Serano, Reid Mihalko, Kelly Shibari, and more!

This is the book every young woman should have been given instead of dry health class lectures on anatomy and menstruation. In a fun, often irreverent, entertaining way, Moon lays out the realities of sex for women, and though the emphasis is on women having relations with women, the information she shares in a sex-positive, non-judgmental way is vital for all women. With an inclusive atmosphere so that all women find themselves represented in a respectful, realistic way, Moon and her guest educators take the mystery out of how things work, how to approach sex in a positive, co-creative way, and what to avoid. With helpful, and wonderful, illustrations and even a story to illustrate certain points interspersed between the educational bits, everything a woman needs to take the anxiety and mystification out of sex is right here.

Great combination of graphics, understandable language, and story-telling with wonderful ‘how-to’s’.

I wish I'd had this book when I was twenty, but even reading it at fifty-six I learned a lot! The book is full of information presented in a professional and entertaining way. No matter how experienced or inexperienced a person (this book's not just for girls!) is, this book has something to teach. Allison Moon knows what she's talking about, and she talks about it all. Oh, and it's fun.

I'm rating logical progression as "plot" and layout as "setting." Characterization – the mildly erotic storyline used as illustration of principles – was strong on diversity but I think individual vignettes would have worked better. These gals shag everyone. And, finally – This is NOT a book that should be read all at once, and it's not a book to give anyone as entertainment. As a textbook for healthy consensual sex, it's excellent.

This is an absolutely unique and desperately needed resource for those who love cis women, female-identified women, feminine-of-center persons, female-bodied persons, and even persons whose bodies and identities don't fall neatly into a category. Targeted at the underserved demographic of those wishing to honor and respect a lover's personhood throughout a sexual encounter, Girl Sex 101 focuses heavily on achieving meaningful consent, negotiating boundaries, learning how to communicate about sex with a partner--especially one who's suffered abuse, misgendering, or body issues--and making the sometimes daunting prospect of true physical intimacy attainable for anyone. I can't recommend it highly enough. Everything about it from its charming fictional interludes to its fun illustrations to its up-to-date, sex-positive feminist approach to the subject matter win rave reviews. This book is a must-read for lesbian, multisexual, and trans* spectrum people.

From beginner to old-timer, very informative female sex primer. Easy to read, conversationally written, and very supportive and encouraging of whichever gender lifestyle a woman may choose. Lots of good tips!

It was informative, well written, and I like that the author also didn't want girls to man hate. Very nicely done.

Runners Up:2. Making a Comeback by Julie Blair 3. Barring Complications by Blythe Rippon 4. An American Queer: The Amazon Trail by Lee LynchThe Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde5. A Small Country about to Vanish by Victoria Avilan 6. Under a Falling Star by Jae 7. Medusa: A Dark Victorian Penny Dread by Elizabeth WatasinNo Good Reason by Cari Hunter8. Everything by Carole WolfRabbits of the Apocalypse by Benny Lawrence9. All the little Moments by G Benson10. Sandcastles by Suzie CarrSeason's Meetings by Amy DunneAll We Lack by Sandra MoranTo Love Again by B.L. Clark

Martin Zoric had vivid dreams of fatherhood, of a small hand pressed to his, of pink dresses and girlish laughter. Then his wife had a stillbirth and his world fell apart. He listened to the unwanted apologies, stood by his wife as was expected of him, and kept his façade strong and firm for the entire world to see. But does he have the strength let go and really grieve? When Ren Wakahisa landed in Croatia he was hoping to escape the cultural pressures put on him to conform. His family wanted him to forsake love for duty. They viewed his happiness as secondary to familial prosperity. Does he have the courage to be who he wants to be? Or, will he yield to their wishes? Summer Symphony is the story of how two men find their answers and what they learn about strength, and grace, and the endurance of love.

A well-written story that packs quite an emotional punch. I was especially engrossed by the depiction of a man's grief at the loss of his child and the tremendous impact that had on his marriage and his life. Overall, a great read.

A book you have to say a lot about it or nothing. It deals with grief in a real, heartbreaking way. I never thought I was reading fiction and I had to remind myself it was a book, because the pain was so real. It's a story about expectations and having to conform to them and having to perform to them. It's a story about cultural differences, blown away by music. Even if this is not a romance and it deals with strong feelings, it's not hopeless, because there's a way you can find to cope, even if you won't ever heal.

Reminiscent of his earlier works. Superb writing that wrings the emotions out of readers!

Thoroughly enthralling story of a summer symphony that is beautiful to behold. Written with a deft hand.

Gut wrenching and raw, this book made me cry several times.

What a beautiful delicate story of the aftermath of bereavement on one man and how he is helped back to his world again.

Runners Up:2. Kneel, Mr. President by Lauren Gallagher3. The Harem Master by Megan Derr 4. I’ll Always Miss You by Raine O’Tierney 5. Fox-Hat and Neko by August Li 6. The Inheritor (The Marketplace #6) by Laura Antoniou7. The Tide of War by Lori A. Witt8. A Hard Ride Home by Emory Vargas 9. A Year in the Life by Cat Grant 10. Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

After breaking his arm on set, Wolf’s Landing stuntman Ginsberg Sloan finds himself temporarily out of work. Luckily, Bluewater Bay’s worst B&B has cheap long-term rates, and Ginsberg’s not too proud to take advantage of them.Derrick Richards, a grizzled laid-off logger, inherited the B&B after his parents’ untimely deaths. Making beds and cooking sunny-side-up eggs is hardly Derrick’s idea of a man’s way to make a living, but just as he’s decided to shut the place down, Ginsberg shows up on his doorstep, pitiful and soaking wet, and Derrick can hardly send him packing.Not outright, at least.The plan? Carry on the B&B’s tradition of terrible customer service and even worse food until the pampered city boy leaves voluntarily. What Derrick doesn’t count on, though, is that the lousier he gets at hosting, the more he convinces bored, busybody Ginsberg to try to get the B&B back on track. And he definitely doesn’t count on the growing attraction between them, or how much more he learns from Ginsberg than how to put out kitchen fires.

Honestly, this book blew me away and that's not easy to do. It was hilarious at times and poignant at others and just such a joy to read. It kept me up into the early morning hours until I couldn't keep my eyes open to read "just one more scene." I nearly ran into a bridge support on my daily walk because I couldn't put my phone away to stop reading the book. I loved how Ginsberg's gender, while being an issue...wasn't THE issue. The story was more about Derrick coming to terms with his own sexuality and what that meant in his world. And everything was just so well done. The sex was perfect. The reactions were perfect.. Derrick coming to terms with his parent's death and how well loved he actually is...perfect. And Ginsberg was perfect. I couldn't think of *anything* I would change, hence my score.

Ah, this book had two great characters that I was rooting for the whole way through. Wonderful little book.

Really well written - beautiful characterization.

This was a sweet story exploring a relationship which was very different for one of the MCs, Derrick, who proved to be a kindly man who gained insight into his own past and character as the book went on. His boyfriend Ginsberg, was also patient and kind in how he made allowances for the new situation his partner found himself in. The B&B itself was another character in the story. I don't know how realistic the sex scenes were, but they were nicely unsensational, and gave me food for thought.

Ginsberg, badass stunt double for the star of the show-within-the-book, caught my attention in the first of the Bluewater Bay stories. Ginsberg is a force of nature, and the contrast between his personality and verve, and Derrick's curmudgeonly (yet oddly innocent) viewpoint is highly entertaining.

Carnival mystics. Zombie tribes. Bad magic in the Bayou. Mage-princes, alien cities, and soul-stealing priests. The grim monsters in the worlds of these dark, speculative tales are true horrors, but it’s the people you should fear the most.People like Michel, a boy pining for his best friend, Ray. But a presence in the swamp calls Michel to avenge another lost love, and he must decide which summons to answer. Or Angelo, a prescient cop who denies his visions until they endanger the man he loves. Or Bellew, an overseer in a shantytown of criminals sheltering a revenant and feeding it from their ranks.From ruined lands of steam and iron, to haunted Southern forests, to brutal city streets where hope and damnation flow from the same spring, only a few stubborn souls possess the heart to challenge evil on its own terms. Some wield magic, some turn to rage or even love, but the ones left standing will survive only if they find the courage to carve their own paths to freedom.Even if it means carving through flesh.

So many worlds, each intricately crafted and fully formed--so different from one another, yet fully, gloriously brought to life in the space of a short story. Breathtaking characters, and stories that impact like a punch to the gut. This is how speculative fiction should be done.

Sooo creepy. The setting for the book, for the different stories contained within were so wonderfully described that as each story revealed its creepy, horror, paranormal aspect it only served to increase the tension, the creepy factor. Each character within the story were interesting, and they maintained their intrigue throughout. There was very little character development with each story being so short, and the intent of the author for the overall vein of the book/collection, but I still would have liked to see the characters stretch and grow more. The plot of most of the stories was interesting, though some of them were just too confusing or disjointed. An overall great read.

Wow. Just wow. What a freaking journey this was! When it comes to world-building, Crow is a master of her craft. An imaginative collection of weird tales that suck you into their dark fantasy world and won't let you leave without a couple of dents in your heart and a fond memory of every character in each different world. Taking these stories beyond expectations, the author delivers us stories with happy endings and far-less-than happy endings, and both gay and lesbian pairings. Sad and bleak and depressing took on new meanings in this anthology of splice-of-life tales. More than once I was left heartbroken, most of all by Hangfire, a beautiful story of love and loss that left me in tears. The author's creativity deserves a definite thumbs-up!

Twelve-year-old Autumn's world is shattered when her beloved Great-Pop, Tommy Johnson, suffers a stroke that leaves him comatose. With everyone around her resigning themselves to the inevitable, Autumn is the only one not willing to give up. She and Great-Pop have more secret stories to share with each other, after all. More stories about Roy McMillan—the great love of Tommy's life whom he lost fifty years ago.Autumn struggles to keep Great-Pop on this side of death's door. But how can she compete with the beautiful and mysterious Valley—a place of surreal magic where the sun never fully sets? Especially when there's someone familiar in the Valley who will do everything he can to keep Great-Pop from returning to her.

It was a really difficult book to read, dealing with an hard issue such as death. But the way it was faced is really sweet and strong. I think it's really difficult to let go people you love, and this book teach us to let go. Well written even if confusing in some passage, nontheless a very agreable book. Touching.

Here's the inspirational comment = A heartbreaking, beautiful story that left me shattered to pieces and crying my eyes out. This is about true love, a close-knit family, stories that can fill entire lifetimes, and a journey through dreams, life and death to learn what truly matters. I will remember this amazing, haunting love story for a long time to come. Loved everything about it!

I'm speechless... It was a very unusual book for me, it left me crying but mostly with happy tears...

It's an open secret that the newest justice on the Supreme Court is a lesbian. So when the Court decides to hear a case about gay marriage, Justice Victoria Willoughby must navigate the press, sway at least one of her conservative colleagues, and confront her own fraught feelings about coming out. ­­ Just when she decides she's up to the challenge,­­ she learns that the very brilliant, very out Genevieve Fornier will be lead counsel on the case. Genevieve isn't sure which is causing her more sleepless nights: the prospect of losing the case, or the thought of who will be sitting on the bench when she argues it.

I was pleasantly amazed at this debut work. Blythe Rippon did an excellent job establishing time and place for her story, and she populated it with very real, very human characters. Multiple viewpoints in a novel can get tricky, but Ms. Rippon switches deftly between Victoria's and Genevieve's perspectives. The dialogue was realistic, there was an unexpected but welcome touch of humor, and the novel moved at a pace that kept me turning pages.

This was such a unique and interesting story. The characters were very well-developed and felt so realistic. The writing style was excellent, there wasn't one boring or slow part. I enjoyed it very much.

So amazingly good. One of my favorite book of the year for sure. As a non american reader I have loved how well the author explain the Supreme Court procedures and the double point of view is so well balanced that seems like the only way this story could have been told. Everything in this book is done so well that it was actually difficult for me to take brakes to do important and so much needed things like sleep! This is a book that I will re-read for sure. A wonderful and actually perfect debut that will make me wait impatiently for her next book.

The idea that this is Mrs Blythe Rippon's debut lesbian, contemporary, romance novel is astonishing as there was such depth, breadth, life, such a realness, vitality, and a thrumming of awareness and anticipation that seemed to thrum throughout every word, every sentence, every paragraph, and every page. Much like the mellifluous and (let's admit it, AMAZING) music she referenced in the book, this story vibrated and flowed like a beautiful melody. Lulling the reader into a vivaciously, entertaining book, about a notably historic moment, and while there might have been some readers who may have found their eyes glazing over at the lengthy and verbose use of legal jargon that seemed to infuse the pages of this novel, Mrs. Rippon's ability to weave their meaning without making the reader feel interminably foolish, or her cheeky way of subtly encouraging the reader to research the numerous legal cases referenced within, only serve to enhance the plot and make it more engaging and enthralling. As for the setting, between the vivid description of the biting cold that made me want to reach for a coat, the rainstorms that made me feel as if my own dress loafers were soaked through, the swimming in the pool that always made me feel exhausted (and strangely smelling of chlorine), even to the mojitos that always left a delightful taste on my tongue, Mrs. Rippon's skill at plunking the reader down in the middle of a scene and not just guiding them through it, but making them experience it, is above par. The characters, from the two main characters: Victoria and Genevieve, to the secondary characters: William, Diane, Sonya, Tara, Bethany, Pollard, Alistair, Rosie, Jamie (of HRC), Nicollete "Nic" (of NCLR), Wallace, even Roxie, etc. are all so completely well executed and well-rounded that there wasn't one character I could imagine lifting out of the novel and tossing away due to frivolity as I can so often do to many other novels. And while of these things point to the brilliance, the beauty, the sheer elegance that is Mrs. Rippon's writing style, and why she is so deserving of a score of 40/40, none do that more than the different quotes from the book to show the interaction between the characters and those directly from the case which was at the center of this novel, which I have included below. As we read and judge these books, sometimes focusing on different aspects of the books, the chemistry between the couples: physical and emotional, the plot of the story, it was lovely to read a story that had at its core a couple not only fighting for their own love, but for the rights of all same-sex couples to be able to marry in the U.S. Something of which we all celebrate, now that the battle has been won. Well done, Mrs. Rippon. Very, very, well done.

Runners Up:2. All the little Moments by G Benson 3. To Love Again by B.L. Clark 4. Wishbone by Elaine Burnes 5. The Caphenon by Fletcher DeLancey 6. Never Too Late by Julie Blair 7. When It Raynes by C.D. CainThe Surrender by Terias McKlay 8. The Paths of Marriage by Mala Kumar9. A Story of Now by Emily O'Beirne10. No Thru Road by Linda M. Vogt

A photographic essay that explores a wide spectrum of experiences told from the perspective of a diverse group of young people, ages 14–24, identifying as queer (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning), Speaking OUT: Queer Youth in Focus presents portraits without judgment or stereotype by eliminating environmental influence with a stark white backdrop. This backdrop acts as a blank canvas, where each subject’s personal thoughts are handwritten onto the final photographic print. With more than 65 portraits photographed over a period of 10 years, the book provides rare insight into the passions, confusions, prejudices, joys, and sorrows felt by queer youth and gives a voice to an underserved group of people that are seldom heard and often silenced. The collaboration of image and first-person narrative serves to provide an outlet, show support, create dialogue, and help those who struggle.

I really liked how even though there was an official author the story was written by the individuals. Compelling, real, and positive outlook toward the future.

All I can tell you is that it moved me. Each page made me think, smile, feel.

Visually stunning and poignant, this book puts together the youth of the LGBTQ community and their thoughts at the time of their portraits for an exhibit. The book is the result of the exhibit. There are many THEN and NOW sections--of how the person felt at the time, and the reflection of what was going then and now. Some moved me to tears, while others made me think, and few made me laugh. The most basic and universal of messages--let me be free to be me--get to know me--I too am human were wonderfully documented in this book..

Runners Up:2. Modern Brides & Modern Grooms: A Guide to Planning Straight, Gay, and Other NonTraditional, Twenty-First Century Weddings by Mark O'Connell 3. Job Hunt by Jackie Keswick

In a town as small as Tyson, CA, everybody knew the four brothers with the four different fathers—and their penchant for making good music when they weren't getting into trouble. For Mackey Sanders, playing in Outbreak Monkey with his brothers and their friends—especially Grant Adams—made Tyson bearable. But Grant has plans for getting Mackey and the Sanders boys out of Tyson, even if that means staying behind.Between the heartbreak of leaving Grant and the terrifying, glamorous life of rock stardom, Mackey is adrift and sinking fast. When he's hit rock bottom, Trav Ford shows up, courtesy of their record company and a producer who wants to see what Mackey can do if he doesn't flame out first. But cleaning up his act means coming clean about Grant, and that's not easy to do or say. Mackey might make it with Trav's help—but Trav's not sure he's going to survive falling in love with Mackey.Mackey James Sanders comes with a whole lot of messy, painful baggage, and law-and-order Trav doesn't do messy or painful. And just when Trav thinks they may have mastered every demon in Mackey's past, the biggest, baddest demon of all comes knocking.

No one does angst like Amy Lane. At times this book was almost too much--even for someone like me who adores angst--but it's impossible to put down. The characters are perfectly flawed, so loveable you feel every shred of their pain and hope and loss. A story that will stay with me forever, for sure.

This book pulled me in from the very beginning, and I almost felt like I was there.

Intense long gripping story with a plot that continued to evolve throughout the story. Interesting characters. Looked at sad side of life as well as the good side.

Amy Lane's dark contemporary stories always gut me -- this one was no different, and it wasn't even one of the darker ones. Incredible characters, roiling emotions, and rock and roll! When you finish an Amy Lane book, you feel like you really know all her characters personally (and for some of the less pleasant ones, that's not entirely comfortable!).

Absolutely loved every word, Amy Lane at her finest!

Coming of age story. As expected from this author, very well written and interactive. A song of life, love and friendship.

Runners Up:2. Knight of Ocean Avenue by Tara Lain 3. The Butterfly King by Edmond ManningWe Found Love by Allison Cassatta & Kade Boheme4. A New Man by P.D. Singer5. The Deep of the Sound by Amy LaneTrust the Focus by Megan Erickson 6. Arctic Absolution by Lynn Kelling 7. Everything Changes by Melanie Hansen8. Bowl Full of Cherries by Raine O’TierneyIn the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish9. Innocence by Suki Fleet 10. A Restored Man by Jaime Reese

Jazz pianist Liz Randall is reeling from her wife’s death and struggling to keep their band together. An invitation to play at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival is an opportunity she can’t turn down, and a challenge she might not be up to until she enlists the help of a mysterious neighbor who’s surprisingly knowledgeable about jazz.When Jac Winters reluctantly agrees to help, a past she wants to forget threatens to destroy the carefully ordered life she’s built with her guide dog, Max, in the quiet town of Carmel-by-the-Sea.With music and love swirling around them like ocean currents, will Liz and Jac play it safe or risk everything on making a comeback?

Absolutely brilliant story about love lost and regained, no punches pulled. Wonderful background of music.

This is definitely an author I would look up again. I truly enjoyed the flow of the story.

Loved it - love the Jazz, the partner's death, the neighbor, the locale of Carmel by the Sea - loved it.

This book was much better than her debut one and if Julie Blair can improve so much with only two book I will wait impatiently for her 3rd one. Really good job! I have nothing to say because the book have offered me all I want: a good solid plot that make sense and give away so much in the feelings department that one can only empathize with the protagonists. And also if it was not a original story it was fresh enough to old my interest from cover to cover. Definitely one of the best read this year and so it deserved a perfect score.

A little slow placed but overall well written romance. Very likeable MC's, both vulnerable and finding their way to love.

Laurence Dalziel, a thirty-seven year old trauma surgeon, is worn down and washed up. And for him the BDSM scene especially is all played out. He’s tired of pantomiming submission, and he’s long since given up looking for more than hollow release.Then he meets Toby Finch. Nineteen years old. Fearless, fierce, and vulnerable. Everything Laurie can’t remember being.Toby doesn’t know who he wants to be or what he wants to do. He doesn’t know how he ended up where he is or where he’s meant to be going. But he knows, with all the terrible certainty of youth, that he wants Laurie.He wants Laurie on his knees. He wants to make him hurt, he wants to make him beg, he wants to make him fall in love. But while Laurie will surrender his body to Toby’s desires, he won’t surrender his heart. Because whatever they have, however right it feels, he knows it can’t last. Toby has to live his own life, and Laurie has to let him.It can’t be for real.

Oh my dog!!!! . . I was a bit let down when I saw it was BDSM. That usually does very little for me. But this book made me a believer. I have loved Alexis’s other books because they are clever, funny, and hot. I love this one because I was forced to, much like Laurie, the jaded BDSMer was forced to love Toby but not in a stilted set-up. They were so perfect together. There were bits that felt slightly holier-than-thou about BDSM (eg the conversation about safe-words) but who cares. The book has so much heart to go along with Alexis’s usual cleverness I’m thoroughly charmed and wowed by it. The BDSM was never forced or silly—except in the one scene when it was supposed to be, and even that wasn’t cheapened into being a mere plot device because Dom, the secondary character, is more than a stereotype (and he made sure we and Laurie knows it) . The heroes are fabulous and I get snuffly just thinking of them – and I NEVER get snuffly about books. I feel sorry for whoever dropped the ball on reading this. S/he missed an absolute treat. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. And now I have to recover and get some sleep because Hall made me stay up way past my bedtime, reading.

The emotionality, the depth and the sheer brilliance of the writing took my breath away. An awesome read and a wonderful, poignant romance.

BDSM, but with much more focus on the psychology, the needs of the two men and the balance of the relationship, than any mechanics of the physical side. Not that there aren't excellent sexual episodes in it, but there are no formal scenes here, no careful planning and stylized progression. Just two men, one older, one younger; one experienced in the scene, one completely new to it; one broken by losing love through no fault of his own, one urgently seeking something he's never had... and the young, inexperienced guy is the Dom. This worked for me on so many levels. The writing is excellent. (If you haven't tried this author yet, and were daunted by the accent or the steampunk of other stories, try this one.) The men are imperfect, physically as well as in their very human emotions and psychology. The progression through the relationship is organic, not formalized, moving in very believable fits and starts. There are wonderful moments and painful moments and I read it in one breathless evening, then went back to the beginning.

Runners Up:2. The Slave by Kate AaronA Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews3. Breaking the Habit by J.P. BowieThe Love of Wicked Men (Episodes 1-6) by Brandon Shire4. Unfortunate Son by Shae Connor5. No Place That Far by L.A. Witt & Aleksandr Voinov 6. Make Me Soar (Collars & Cuffs #6) by K.C. Wells7. Chance Of the Heart by Kade Boehme 8. Dirty Dining by EM Lynley 9. Mask by Teodora Kostova 10. Turkish Delights by Trina LaneWrestling With Passion by D.H. StarrTraining Complex by Leta BlakeBeyond the Surface by Felice StevensThe Right Time (Right And Wrong #3) by Lane Hayes

A story too secret, too terrifying—and too shockingly intimate—for Victorian eyes.A note to the EditorDear Henry,I have been Simon Feximal’s companion, assistant and chronicler for twenty years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide.You have asked me often for the tale of our first meeting, and how my association with Feximal came about. I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted, and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.Robert CaldwellSeptember 1914"The Caldwell Ghost" and “Butterflies” are previously published short stories. The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal continues and completes Robert Caldwell and Simon Feximal’s story.

Well rounded characters and I enjoyed how their relationship was told through the cases they worked. I loved the world building and that I could picture everything as it was playing out, almost like I was watching a movie.

Another perfect read. A collection of short stories that piece together a lifetime relationship. Sad and sweet, scary and funny, all stories are different and entertaining.

This was literally the best thing I read all year.

This is a charming (if sometimes harrowing) homage to Victorian occultists and its resulting pulp fiction. KJ Charles's mastery of the vernacular of this period is remarkable, as always. Ever wonder what would have happened if Holmes and Watson had been lovers rather than colleagues, and if Holmes's weakness had not been cocaine but the result of arcane tampering? Here's the answer. (In Feximal's world, the Hound of the Baskervilles would have truly been a giant spectral hound.)

I adored this book which hearkened back to the days of Victorian England, and the poignancy of two men investigating to the best of their abilities. The irony--and hope--at the end undid me, and I have spent lots of fruitless--if wonderful time--imagining the ending that I'm sure we all wanted for our heroes. I did not realize until recently that parts of this book were released independently, as individual adventures, and that knowledge only made me love it more. It's like Sherlock Holmes, paranormal style, and I cannot praise it enough.

Call Me Home has an epic scope in the tradition of Louise Erdrich’s The Plague of Doves or Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping and braids the stories of a family in three distinct voices: Amy, who leaves her Texas home at 19 to start a new life with a man she barely knows, and her two children, Jackson and Lydia, who are rocked by their parents’ abusive relationship. When Amy is forced to bargain for the safety of one child over the other, she must retrace the steps in the life she has chosen. Jackson, 18 and made visible by his sexuality, leaves home and eventually finds work on a construction crew in the Idaho mountains, where he begins a potentially ruinous affair with Don, the married foreman of his crew. Lydia, his 12-year-old sister, returns with her mother to Texas, struggling to understand what she perceives to be her mother’s selfishness. At its heart, this is a novel about family, our choices and how we come to live with them, what it means to be queer in the rural West, and the changing idea of home.

This is a beautiful tale told in three voices: Lydia speaks from the first person point of view, and Jackson and Amy speak from the third person point of view. The timetable is not linear, but the writer purposely reveals the details of their lives as needed. The struggles of physical/mental abuse are shown by each voice as they perceive them and add up to the tragedy that is domestic abuse. The gay theme is masterfully told by both Amy and Jackson. At one point Amy goes to Seattle to participate in an LGBT rally because she wants the best for her son: "She wanted every promise that lit from these hopeful tongues, the warm and waiting streets they marched on. She wanted him to have what was owed to him, for the world to crack open for him. She did not want for him to feel the poor, small life that was already around him for a minute longer, when all of this was here, waiting." There is also the relationship between Lydia and Jackson. more like siblings they are twins. They feel each other's presence even when they are apart: "...if Jackson lives as though he never knew us at all - it doesn't matter. I'll remember it for us, I thought; I will remember all of it; I will leave nothing out. I didn't know why it was important, but it was." The character development is outstanding. They pop out of the page and speak to you. After a few pages you can't help but feel their pain. This is the best novel I've read this year! At its heart, this is a novel about family, our choices and how we come to live with them, what it means to be queer in the rural West, and the changing idea of home and family.

Kruse seamlessly weaves the story through past and present - each time period as pertinent and relative to each other in the story as they are in the individual’s life. No loss of suspense in the transitions, rather a skillful heightening. The writing is as spare and plain as the emotionally impoverished lives the characters lead, and the settings are perfectly balanced - as broken as the characters yet full of potential. Perfectly paced character development - the damaged young daughter hating and fearing her abusive father; the gay son so hungry for his father’s love and his hate for his mother; the guilt-ridden mother driven after decades of abuse to finally flee her the husband she once loved, who could at turns be fun and loving. It would have been easy to keep him just a bad guy but Kruse makes him as sympathetic and damaged as the rest of his family. A lovely novel of resiliency and continuing to believe in ones dreams.

Oliver “Ollie” Petroskovic’s life as an international supermodel was heading in the right direction. He worked part-time for his brother at his detective agency―Petroskovic Haven Investigations―and had just bought his dream house. But all that changed when he found his brother dead, a victim of PTSD-induced suicide.Almost a year later, Ollie is trying to keep his brother’s business afloat, but can’t get his PI license. Then his brother’s best friend, Kade Alme, shows up, fresh from the battlefield after a close brush with death. Kade is looking for a new life, in more ways than one, and with PI license in hand, he’s exactly what Ollie needs to keep PHI running.When one of Ollie's childhood friends gets in trouble, Ollie feels he has to help. Kade insists on investigating if only to keep Ollie safe. Neither realizes the danger they’re in as someone tries to tear them apart before they can find solid ground together.

Well written mystery with lovable characters. Just enough angst to keep things interesting. I couldn't stop reading.

If you like mysteries then you really need to give this story a chance. I was pulled in right from the beginning by both the characters and the mysteries woven through the story. There are several OMG moments and I was surprised by how everything played out. This is one story that would make a great series, and I plan on re-reading it soon.

A deliciously plotted murder mystery with a great cast of characters and believable relationships.

From the bestselling author of Pay It Forward comes a story of the heartbreak and healing power of family. New to a small town, Jackie and Paula envision a quiet life for their kids: a young adopted son and two teenage foster children, including the troubled Star. However, they quickly butt heads with their neighbor, Clementine, who disapproves of their lifestyle and is incensed when Star befriends her spirited horse, Comet. Haunted by past tragedy and unable to properly care for Comet, Clem nevertheless resents the bond Star soon shares with the horse. When Star disappears with Comet, the neighbors are thrown together—far too close together. But as the search for the pair wears on, both families must learn to put aside their animosity and confront the choices they’ve made and the scars they carry. Plumbing the depths of regret and forgiveness, The Language of Hoofbeats explores the strange alchemy that transforms a group of people into a family.

The Language of Hoofbeats is a touching story of a lesbian couple that moves into a small town with 3 children. One they adopted, the other two are fosters. Their closest neighbor is not happy that they have moved in and they are lesbians. The story shows how the neighbor and the couple have to push aside differences when one of the children does something unthinkable that affects them all.

Mrs Catherine Ryan Hyde work seem to be always precise and on point and this book is another example of why I enjoy to read her books. This is not the first time that I read a book divided into two point of views but it is a lot more rare that the different voices are not connected by a romance building among the owners of those voices. I think that the way she balanced her protagonist's stories is perfect and the story even if not new is never trite or banal.

The characterization was a rare piece of craftsmanship, making even the most disagreeable character human and sympathetic. Best of the bunch – VERY well done!

The plot structure was perfection. There were lots of arcs, but they all came together. Clem's struggles seemed to mirror Star's, and the horse brought them together. The setting--Clem's house, the barn, and Jackie's house were well done and used to maximum benefit. Characterization was spot on. Character growth of everyone was incredible. It seemed they all had fears they needed to overcome. The writing style was fantastic--each sentence has a purpose.

For me, this book is a straight 10-10-10-10 for a total of 40. I was almost sure it would be 5 pages into it. Okay, I need to justify my rating. This is going to be longer than you want to read, but I'll get around to something you can use by the end. When I read other lesfic, I can't help but compare the writing to my own writing. There are a lot of authors I judge "not as good" or "really, really not as good". And then there's a group that I consider peers, or close enough. There are a few I put "a little better". Then there's Catherine Ryan Hyde. I can only hope someday to write this well. You probably can't use any of that and want a simple one liner. So... The Language of Hoofbeats tugged at my heartstrings. It made me laugh. It made me cry. I felt joy, and I felt sorrow. And I felt hope.

Runners Up:2. A Small Country about to Vanish by Victoria Avilan 3. Everything by Carole Wolf 4. Sandcastles by Suzie CarrAll We Lack by Sandra MoranTo Love Again by B.L. Clark5. Turning for Home by Caren J. Werlinger

The war is over. The battle for love has just begun.As Marines, Cal and Jim depended on each other to survive bloodshed and despair in the Pacific. Relieved to put the horrors of war behind him, Jim went home to his apple orchard and a quiet life with his wife and children. Knowing Jim could never return his forbidden feelings, Cal hoped time and an ocean between them would dull the yearning for his best friend.But when Jim's wife dies, Cal returns to help. He doesn't know a thing about apple farming--or children--but he's determined to be there for Jim, even as the painful torch he carries blazes back to life. Jim is grateful for his friend's support as he struggles with buried emotions and dark wartime memories. Then Jim begins to see Cal in a new light, and their relationship deepens in ways neither expected.Can they build a life together as a family and find happiness in a world that would condemn them?

This is a historical that is very well done by Ms. Andrews. The characters really pulled me in and I loved the way the author allows them to find their happily ever after.

Of the three historicals I’ve read this is by far my favorite. The author did an excellent job of writing an accurate historical piece and making the love story appealing to the reader. Normally I don’t like a lot of flashbacks, but this was written in a way that made the flashbacks keep the characters story moving forward. The plot itself was original and creative. Excellent job of taking the reader to both the South Pacific and Upstate New York. Both the main characters were written excellently. Their backstories were done well and their growth throughout the story realistic. Language was appropriate to the times. Good use of showing. Pace was enjoyable.

This was by far my favorite book this year. The characterizations were fantastic; the plot moved along at a good pace. I liked the way the chapters went back and forth between past and present as well.

This was a gorgeously written book. Usually, I don't enjoy books that flip between timelines, but in this case it worked very well - the arc of a young Cal and Jim surviving Okinawa and reaching the end of the war carefully mirroring the modern arc of Cal and Jim struggling to come to terms with their relationship and ultimately building a life together with their family. The secondary characters were thoughtfully drawn and the storyline was treated in a lovely, understated and sensitive way. Even the smallest throwaway line of Sergeant Tyrell smiling at Cal to tell him that he was now a Marine was perfectly meaningful, leading the reader to understand that Tyrell had not been abusing his power in treating Cal harshly but hoped to give him the skills to survive wartime and that Cal, to an independent observer, really appeared to be a promising but undisciplined young man. I felt that Jim's agonizing over balancing what was best for his children against what was best for himself and Cal went on just a touch too long and dragged the pace of the plot a bit, but that's a pretty minor complaint. One of my favorite reads this year.

Wow! Two books in one: the story of the war years, then the recovery and journey of self discovery skillfully blended together. Bitter-sweet and utterly enthralling, I cannot recommend this book enough.

Runners Up:2. A Fashionable Indulgence by KJ Charles 3. Undercover Blues by Chris Quinton 4. The Bells of Times Square by Amy Lane 5. When Skies Have Fallen by Debbie McGowan

Space is not always filled with adventures and glory. Not everybody goes racing off to battle evil and save the galaxy. Between the rebels, pirates, royals, and spies are the everyday people who work hard just to get by and ensure everyone gets home safe. Less Than Three Press presents a collection of tales about the ordinary folks who keep the stars running.

Every time I read an Andrea Speed book I get sucked in. I read all the books in the anthology, they were all good.

Although on a similar theme, each story took a different approach. I was hooked very early on by not just the plots, but the characters and worldbuilding. A few authors new to me who I will be reading more of. Loved it.

In the previous anthologies I've said that there was a mixed bag of good and not so good stories. In this one, though, I must confess, I Loved all the stories within. Each one was quite entertaining and some even kept me at the edge of the seat. I must say, I'd love to see these shorts expanded to novel size and let us see more of these couples and the men and women who surround them. Well written, entertaining stories!

Carnival mystics. Zombie tribes. Bad magic in the Bayou. Mage-princes, alien cities, and soul-stealing priests. The grim monsters in the worlds of these dark, speculative tales are true horrors, but it’s the people you should fear the most.People like Michel, a boy pining for his best friend, Ray. But a presence in the swamp calls Michel to avenge another lost love, and he must decide which summons to answer. Or Angelo, a prescient cop who denies his visions until they endanger the man he loves. Or Bellew, an overseer in a shantytown of criminals sheltering a revenant and feeding it from their ranks.From ruined lands of steam and iron, to haunted Southern forests, to brutal city streets where hope and damnation flow from the same spring, only a few stubborn souls possess the heart to challenge evil on its own terms. Some wield magic, some turn to rage or even love, but the ones left standing will survive only if they find the courage to carve their own paths to freedom.Even if it means carving through flesh.

So many worlds, each intricately crafted and fully formed--so different from one another, yet fully, gloriously brought to life in the space of a short story. Breathtaking characters, and stories that impact like a punch to the gut. This is how speculative fiction should be done.

Sooo creepy. The setting for the book, for the different stories contained within were so wonderfully described that as each story revealed its creepy, horror, paranormal aspect it only served to increase the tension, the creepy factor. Each character within the story were interesting, and they maintained their intrigue throughout. There was very little character development with each story being so short, and the intent of the author for the overall vein of the book/collection, but I still would have liked to see the characters stretch and grow more. The plot of most of the stories was interesting, though some of them were just too confusing or disjointed. An overall great read.

Wow. Just wow. What a freaking journey this was! When it comes to world-building, Crow is a master of her craft. An imaginative collection of weird tales that suck you into their dark fantasy world and won't let you leave without a couple of dents in your heart and a fond memory of every character in each different world. Taking these stories beyond expectations, the author delivers us stories with happy endings and far-less-than happy endings, and both gay and lesbian pairings. Sad and bleak and depressing took on new meanings in this anthology of splice-of-life tales. More than once I was left heartbroken, most of all by Hangfire, a beautiful story of love and loss that left me in tears. The author's creativity deserves a definite thumbs-up!

“I can’t do this. I can’t do any of this without her.”Detective Sanne Jensen (not blonde, not tall, definitely not Scandinavian) and Dr. Meg Fielding (scruffy, scatterbrained, prone to swearing at patients) are lifelong best friends, sharing the same deprived background and occasionally the same bed.When a violent kidnapping stuns the Peak District village of Rowlee, both women become involved in the case. As Sanne and her colleagues in East Derbyshire Special Ops search for the culprit, and Meg fights to keep his victim alive, a shocking discovery turns the investigation on its head. With the clock ticking, Sanne and Meg find themselves pushed closer by a crime that threatens to tear everything apart.

A fabulous mystery, well grounded in setting, creepy and steadily paced, reminiscent of the television show Broadchurch.

Very good craft. Great story. I would like to have seen more kickass in the heroine. A little to indecisive for my taste. But a great story idea that really grabs you about midway through. I’d like to have seen the heroine force the issue a little more. The plot components are all there and in order. But the heroine could have made that flow a little faster, a little more captivating by rebelling every once in a while. Setting is Excellent. The reveal was a little slow on a few issues and, I believe, incomplete on others. The heroines’ father. How that impacted her decision making could have been developed a little more. And there were two specific times I wanted to grab the H and yell at her. Go do this now. You not doing this particular thing is out of character for you. The most important of the two was when they finally linked one person to the killings (Farley I believe) and everyone else gave up on the second victim (Rachel). And our H went home wounded and tired, all teary eyed, but she had a hunch or maybe a hope. She shouldn’t have given up. She should of fought Meg to the point of anger and continued the search on her own. In the dark. In the rain. Through the pain. That’s what makes our heroes heroic. Great stuff. Nice flow. Very clean. Well edited. Only mention here would be using a lot of brand names. Especially products that a reader outside the UK may never have heard of before. Great one. I will be finding another title by this author for personal reading.

Brilliant. This started out looking like another trudge through a cliché formula, then suddenly spun out into a hair-raising hunt. I'd go on about how good it is but I don't want to give away any surprises. A real surprise.

An excellent start into a new series oozing with brithisness and characters who run deep.

Sequel to Infected: UndertowInfected: Book EightIn a world where a werecat virus has changed society, Roan McKichan, a born infected and ex-cop, works as a private detective solving crimes involving other infecteds.Tiger strain infections start showing up all over Seattle, much to Roan's dismay, and worse yet, they may have a personal connection. Meanwhile, Roan gets hired to look into the puzzling death of Dee's former lover. Then the FBI wants him to investigate a new apocalypse cult of infecteds pushing for a violent revolution against normals. All around Roan, events are spiraling out of control. Just when his singular abilities are needed most, Roan develops new symptoms that might signify dire consequences if he doesn’t stop shifting at will. Roan finds himself at a crossroads and must make a difficult decision about his future.

This is the beautiful first meeting of soul mates. It's heartbreaking, for those like me who know how that story ends, but it's a sort of privilege to be able to see two people who were born to be together meet and recognize they're meant for each other. It's great to see how the main characters complement each other and their dialogs are lively and funny. Even if there is a sort of sadness, the undertones are not hopeless, because what the author was able to convey is the dignity of Paris even in the bad place he is at the moment. And Roan is a caring, badass, no-bullshit hero, who speaks more through his deeds than his words.

I've been hooked on Roan's story since book one and have really enjoyed reading each and every book in the series.

Corwin Menevie and Nika Santivan are decorated veterans of the Imperial Enforcement Coalition, and are perfectly capable of solving cases the old-fashioned way. When they’re paired with Westley Tavera and Gavin Hale, the most powerful Reader/Ground team to emerge from the Psionics Academy, it could either be the best thing that’s ever happened to crime fighting, or the makings of a quadruple homicide.During a routine investigation, West’s talent puts them on the trail of a brutal serial killer who traps his prey in a deadly mental playground. Then the killer starts baiting the team, laying psychic landmines at crime scenes and exposing IEC secrets. The strain of the case binds the agents closer together—so close that Nika and Gavin start sharing a room, and even the curmudgeonly Corwin finds himself as occupied with West as he is with the murders.But as West’s visions of death grow more violent, the only way out for all of them may be straight through the mind of a monster. If they’re not careful, they may forget which side of the hunt they’re on.

Peripheral People was an intelligent and absorbing thriller that kept my interest from start to finish. The plot moved along at a cracking pace and I loved the character development and romance between the two leads. The supporting characters were interesting and three dimensional. I will probably read more from this author.

A perfectly created world. I'd not read any of this series, but soon understood what was going on. The main characters were shown clearly and had distinct, individual personalities. The world-building was excellent, and I had no trouble believing West and Corwin could travel psychically into others' minds. The book wasn't quite perfect - one or two occasions it seemed to get bogged down a little with interpersonal relations rather than getting to the heart of the plot and solving the mystery, but overall it's one of the best I've read in this category.

I read this book and re-read it. This held my interest from the start for the interesting characters, and their past, plus the tension between the main guys.

Event planner Levi Goode is positioned to inherit the newly vacated throne, becoming the in-demand party planner for Wilde City's elite. Years of hard work and perseverance are finally paying off as Levi lands his next big fish, working with socialite Julia Freeman-Kingsley. Distracted by work and dealing with his head strong mother, an ex-Vegas-showgirl suffering from debilitating health issues, Levi has his hands full. Time for love or even the occasional one-night stand, is one aspect of life Levi hasn't been able to master. Sparks of interest fly during a chance meeting with a paramedic called to the aid of his mother, and thanks to Ruby's meddling, Levi finds himself on a movie-date with the handsome Paramedic Jake. Personal and professional worlds collide when Levi realizes his new love interest is actually Jake Freeman, estranged brother to his brand new client. Discovering the man of his dreams already has a boyfriend, leaves Levi stunned realizing any hopes he had for something more with Jake were never going to be anything more than wishful thinking. Struggling to downshift his expectations and remain friends with Jake while continuing to work closely with Julia quickly consumes all of his time and attention. Wondering if there will ever be a special someone to love him, is where Levi's love story begins.

Love Me Tomorrow was a fun romantic read. The characters were appealing and the story was well-written. I felt the whole thing went on a bit too long and the Epilogue was totally unnecessary. But the end result was a good, fun romantic read. Setting Development was Excellent. Characters Development was Wonderful, appealing main characters including supporting ones.

I have always loved Ethan Day's writing style. In this particular book, the characters are likeable and I really enjoyed reading about them. Levi especially made me keep reading. When the plot picked up I couldn't put the book down.

As a preface I should say that I read this book when it came out. To make sure I read it under the same eyes as the other entries I re-read. The plot moved at a comfortable pace and was enjoyable. My only contention is that once the two main characters got together their relationship seemed rushed. Ethan wrote it off as though they recognized this fact but went on with it anyway, but it felt less realistic than the rest of the book. One of Ethan’s strength is writing great characters. This was no different. Did an excellent job of making a fictional city believable with a creative history. Would have liked a bit more detail. Easy to read. Language appropriate to both the setting and characters.

Long on angst, non stop humor with a dash of pathos. Was planning on skimming but fell in love with all the MC's and their family and needed to savor every sentence. Loved it!

Martin Zoric had vivid dreams of fatherhood, of a small hand pressed to his, of pink dresses and girlish laughter. Then his wife had a stillbirth and his world fell apart. He listened to the unwanted apologies, stood by his wife as was expected of him, and kept his façade strong and firm for the entire world to see. But does he have the strength let go and really grieve? When Ren Wakahisa landed in Croatia he was hoping to escape the cultural pressures put on him to conform. His family wanted him to forsake love for duty. They viewed his happiness as secondary to familial prosperity. Does he have the courage to be who he wants to be? Or, will he yield to their wishes? Summer Symphony is the story of how two men find their answers and what they learn about strength, and grace, and the endurance of love.

A well-written story that packs quite an emotional punch. I was especially engrossed by the depiction of a man's grief at the loss of his child and the tremendous impact that had on his marriage and his life. Overall, a great read.

A book you have to say a lot about it or nothing. It deals with grief in a real, heartbreaking way. I never thought I was reading fiction and I had to remind myself it was a book, because the pain was so real. It's a story about expectations and having to conform to them and having to perform to them. It's a story about cultural differences, blown away by music. Even if this is not a romance and it deals with strong feelings, it's not hopeless, because there's a way you can find to cope, even if you won't ever heal.

Reminiscent of his earlier works. Superb writing that wrings the emotions out of readers!

Thoroughly enthralling story of a summer symphony that is beautiful to behold. Written with a deft hand.

Gut wrenching and raw, this book made me cry several times.

What a beautiful delicate story of the aftermath of bereavement on one man and how he is helped back to his world again.

Runners Up:2. I’ll Always Miss You by Raine O’Tierney3. Fox-Hat and Neko by August Li4. The Inheritor (The Marketplace #6) by Laura Antoniou 5. The Tide of War by Lori A. Witt

Set in the late 1990s in the months following the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, "A Scout is Brave," tells the coming-of-age story of 14-year-old Joshua Ishkoday, a part Native American boy coming to terms with his sexual orientation. Joshua is new to the Scout troop that invites him to a week of summer camp in northern Wisconsin. Some of the weaker kids in the troop soon realize they have a special friend in Joshua, who is not afraid to stand up to the troop's ruthless bullies. Joshua’s bravery and kindness is infectious, and the bullied Scouts quickly see their own inner worth and strength. Joshua, however, is plagued by self-doubt as he comes to terms with his developing feelings for Cody, the son of the troop’s tough and stern Scoutmaster. The two quickly realize they have more in common than just Scouting, as they confide in each other their deepest secrets and develop a close friendship. That friendship soon faces its greatest challenge, as the homophobic troop bullies come to believe that a "queer" has “infected” their troop. Struggling to come to terms with his sexuality and with the troop bullies, while at the same time discovering the camp's deep, dark secret, Joshua has to summon all of his courage and learn for the first time what it truly means to be brave. "A Scout is Brave" is especially timely in light of the increased media attention to anti-gay bullying and the string of high profile gay teen suicides. The novel powerfully portrays the psychology of bullying and demonstrates the pervasiveness of bigotry in American culture.

A story every young people should read. Very touching and well written, it really gets to the reader. A must for growing up kids.

This was a story I really enjoyed. I felt like the characters were real breathing people.

I was fascinated both by the main character, Joshua, and the glimpses of Native American culture. Another plus is that, while this is the second in a series of three related books, it is written in such a way that this story can be enjoyed entirely on its own without feeling that something has been missed.

Sworn to have their lover's back, front, or any other side that needs covering. Secret Service agent Kent Sinclair, head of POTUS security, thought himself prepared for every contingency. Until the First Lady-a woman who barely tolerates his presence-approaches him with a request that startles the hell out of him. Carlene Broderick is frightened. With the weight of the country and impending war on his shoulders, her husband, James, is buckling under the strain. The key to helping him cope is the name he calls out in his sleep-and it's not hers. It belongs to his fellow ex-SEAL team buddy. His ex-lover. Kent. Without hesitation, Kent plunges into treacherous emotional territory, only to realize it's not really him that James needs. The Commander in Chief needs to give up complete control in the bedroom. To relieve that much pressure, Kent and Carlene must work together and declare a truce that rapidly heats up into something more. Something that leaves James caught deep in forbidden territory-torn between his beloved wife and the man he's never stopped loving. Warning: Contains three forty-somethings discovering whole new sides of themselves, a rejuvenated marriage, and plenty of kinky fun. All brought to you by an ex-SEAL in a wetsuit, a bisexual President, and a First Lady with a tattoo on her ass.

Liked the story and the dynamics and interplay between the 3 main characters, especially liked Carlene. A nice twist on a POTUS story!!! First story by this author but won't be the last.

Two men, one woman, and the tense world of White House politics doesn’t sound like the ideal recipe for a HEA romance. Gallagher represents the POV’s of both 2 male and 1 female characters as they struggle to find the sort of trust that would allow the POTUS to function under difficult circumstances, and the kind of permanent love that would bind them together even after the emergencies are over. This book represents a complex and intriguing read about a threesome with just enough light BDSM to keep the reader on the edge of the seat.

One of the best books I've read this year. Fabulous tension and takes the erotic nature to a whole level while dealing with the sensitivity of a threesome in a perfect manner. The pacing was snappy and all around an enjoyable read.

It was almost believable which I found amazing! The relationship between Kent and Carlene kept me interested in the story. The politics got in the way for me but, hey, it’s a story about a politician.

Runners Up:2. The Harem Master by Megan Derr 3. A Hard Ride Home by Emory Vargas 4. A Year in the Life by Cat Grant 5. Smoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake

Twelve-year-old Autumn's world is shattered when her beloved Great-Pop, Tommy Johnson, suffers a stroke that leaves him comatose. With everyone around her resigning themselves to the inevitable, Autumn is the only one not willing to give up. She and Great-Pop have more secret stories to share with each other, after all. More stories about Roy McMillan—the great love of Tommy's life whom he lost fifty years ago.Autumn struggles to keep Great-Pop on this side of death's door. But how can she compete with the beautiful and mysterious Valley—a place of surreal magic where the sun never fully sets? Especially when there's someone familiar in the Valley who will do everything he can to keep Great-Pop from returning to her.

It was a really difficult book to read, dealing with an hard issue such as death. But the way it was faced is really sweet and strong. I think it's really difficult to let go people you love, and this book teach us to let go. Well written even if confusing in some passage, nontheless a very agreable book. Touching.

Here's the inspirational comment = A heartbreaking, beautiful story that left me shattered to pieces and crying my eyes out. This is about true love, a close-knit family, stories that can fill entire lifetimes, and a journey through dreams, life and death to learn what truly matters. I will remember this amazing, haunting love story for a long time to come. Loved everything about it!

I'm speechless... It was a very unusual book for me, it left me crying but mostly with happy tears...

Girl Sex 101 is a sex-ed book like no other, offering helpful info for ladies and lady-lovers of all genders and identities, playful and informative illustrations on each page, and over 100 distinct voices, plus a hot narrative that shows you how to put the info to good use! Learn how to navigate the twists and turns of female sexuality, with special guidance from thirteen guest sex educators including Nina Hartley, Sex Nerd Sandra, Jiz Lee, Tristan Taormino, Julia Serano, Reid Mihalko, Kelly Shibari, and more!

This is the book every young woman should have been given instead of dry health class lectures on anatomy and menstruation. In a fun, often irreverent, entertaining way, Moon lays out the realities of sex for women, and though the emphasis is on women having relations with women, the information she shares in a sex-positive, non-judgmental way is vital for all women. With an inclusive atmosphere so that all women find themselves represented in a respectful, realistic way, Moon and her guest educators take the mystery out of how things work, how to approach sex in a positive, co-creative way, and what to avoid. With helpful, and wonderful, illustrations and even a story to illustrate certain points interspersed between the educational bits, everything a woman needs to take the anxiety and mystification out of sex is right here.

Great combination of graphics, understandable language, and story-telling with wonderful ‘how-to’s’.

I wish I'd had this book when I was twenty, but even reading it at fifty-six I learned a lot! The book is full of information presented in a professional and entertaining way. No matter how experienced or inexperienced a person (this book's not just for girls!) is, this book has something to teach. Allison Moon knows what she's talking about, and she talks about it all. Oh, and it's fun.

I'm rating logical progression as "plot" and layout as "setting." Characterization – the mildly erotic storyline used as illustration of principles – was strong on diversity but I think individual vignettes would have worked better. These gals shag everyone. And, finally – This is NOT a book that should be read all at once, and it's not a book to give anyone as entertainment. As a textbook for healthy consensual sex, it's excellent.

This is an absolutely unique and desperately needed resource for those who love cis women, female-identified women, feminine-of-center persons, female-bodied persons, and even persons whose bodies and identities don't fall neatly into a category. Targeted at the underserved demographic of those wishing to honor and respect a lover's personhood throughout a sexual encounter, Girl Sex 101 focuses heavily on achieving meaningful consent, negotiating boundaries, learning how to communicate about sex with a partner--especially one who's suffered abuse, misgendering, or body issues--and making the sometimes daunting prospect of true physical intimacy attainable for anyone. I can't recommend it highly enough. Everything about it from its charming fictional interludes to its fun illustrations to its up-to-date, sex-positive feminist approach to the subject matter win rave reviews. This book is a must-read for lesbian, multisexual, and trans* spectrum people.

From beginner to old-timer, very informative female sex primer. Easy to read, conversationally written, and very supportive and encouraging of whichever gender lifestyle a woman may choose. Lots of good tips!

It was informative, well written, and I like that the author also didn't want girls to man hate. Very nicely done.

Salvador Dalí, Jerome Robbins, Jackie Onassis. Gregory Peck, Mick Jagger-S. J. Perelman-I. M. Pei. Philip Johnson, Josephine Baker, John Lennon: they, and so many more who made New York City the center of the universe in the 1970s, all had one thing in common besides their adopted hometown-they shopped at a legendary palace of books, music and art: Rizzoli Books at 712 Fifth Avenue. There, Kennedys and Rockefellers mingled with tourists and "regular" customers under the watchful gaze of sophisticated employees, themselves a multi-talented, international collection of artists, scholars and rogues. Nights at Rizzoli is the memoir of Felice Picano, an aspiring but near-starving young writer who in 1971 lucked into a part-time job at the stunningly elegant store via a friend. It metamorphosed into a life-changing experience, one that exposed him to some of the brightest lights in the world's cultural capital. At the store, he himself became a key player on a stage that opened every night to a new drama that often featured romance, at times violence, and of course always the books and their readers. And when his shift was over, in this post-Stonewall, pre-AIDS era, the handsome young bookstore manager stepped from one world into another, prowling the piers, bars and very private clubs of a different New York City.

I have to admit I am a sucker for books like this.

This is a very vivid, detailed memoir about gay life and a special bookstore in the early 1970's of New York City. Worthwhile not just for the cast of famous characters and the love of books but for capturing a very specific era that many readers may not be aware of. Terrific writing flows naturally from one page to the other and I want to recommend this to all my gay friends who love Manhattan like I do.

This is the second memoir I've read from Felice Picano, and I liked this one immensely better than the first one I read last year. Mr. Picano has lead a very interesting, persistent, and engaging life all centered around a simple bookstore, Rizzoli's. His fondness of the place, and the rich history paint a wonderful portrait of the times. My favorite is Mr. M, offering him more money to manage the bookstore, believing that the budding writer would not and could not live on a writer's wage. As he noted, if he stayed, he would not have realized his dream or his full potential. I'm glad he decided to keep on writing so we could peek inside the eclectic store, personalities, and celebrities in the heyday of the Rizzoli.

Delightful to read, engaging, setting is excellent. The name-dropping gets a bit tiresome but that was part of the time and the circles in which he traveled.

Three years ago, Cohen Brandwein was "Ireland's Favorite Daughter", a popular teenage author and internet celebrity. But ever since he came out publicly as trans, the media's treatment of him has been less than golden, and these days, Cohen is desperate for escape. When he inherits an old house in the country, Cohen sees it as a perfect opportunity to escape the press and work on his new book. What he doesn't count on is becoming embroiled in a small town murder mystery and falling for the primary suspect, a man whose reality makes Cohen's fantasy books seem like child's play...

I loved this story. I tore through it in one day, hardly able to put it down. Pendragon's fluid style and interesting characters kept me flipping pages. The plot itself is fun, spooky, and the final words of the story brought it all together in a perfect package.

Captain Elliott Parrish of Her Majesty’s 17th Lancers cavalry division finds most details about his assignment in the Crimean peninsula insufferable. Rampant cholera, missing supplies, and inept planning start the British war effort against the Russian Czar’s expansion into Turkish territory on poor footing. What should have been a swift and decisive summer victory soon drags into a harrowing winter campaign, and Elliott must rally disheartened men through sickness, battle, and starvation. But when he is assigned the additional task of spying on a fellow officer, the inscrutable Cornet Ilyas Kovakin, he finds himself disconcerted and fascinated by both the work and the man. Rumors surround Ilyas Kovakin, the half-Russian officer who reports to none in his division. People say they’ve seen snakes slithering into his tent at night, that he has another face visible only in certain light, and a penchant for violent acts carried out in darkness, alone. But the truth that Elliot soon discovers is much more dangerous then mere superstition. For Ilyas, his return to Crimea is colored with the horrors of his past. Once a mercenary, he has made a terrible mistake and inherited horrifying powers that he can barely control. He feels his hold over his humanity slipping away daily, and fears that salvation may already lay beyond him when the cheerful Captain Parrish catches his attention. Among men who hate him and superiors who covet his brutal power, Ilyas finds the young captain’s charming company almost irresistible. But Ilyas knows that the closer he is drawn to Elliot the more he will endanger them both.

The amount of research and detail that went into The Devil Lancer is breathtaking. I've never been interested in historical romance, but Amara completely drew me in. I enjoyed the harsh reality of the setting. This is the first romance I've read where the main character has lice, and yet this doesn't dampen the truly hot love scenes. The characters were engaging and developed throughout the novel. I cared about them and was saddened when they suffered. The plot skillfully wove magic with reality into a believable story. There was very little drag and a lot of energy as we followed the war and Elliot and Ilyas' parallel quest. The climax was a satisfying culmination of what Amara set up. The writing style had a few bumps here and there, but was overall easy to devour.

Oh my goodness, Ms. Amara. Your story is utterly fascinating. If someone had told me I’d be reading a historical fantasy set during the Crimean War and loving it this hard a week ago, I’d have laughed. But your book is just that good. It’s long, satisfying, pulls you in and drives you forward, as inexorable as the battles it follows. This book is clearly well researched and well plotted, and has been very, very well written.

So well researched, with a fascinating base and a wonderful setting. The plot unfolded effortlessly. Characters were a bit stock, but I really felt for Ilyas. Lovely book, definitely a fan of all the hard work and real effort in this.

Blind Elvie Chaisty discovers a breathing British Museum marble and soon more “living” statues appear in London. Meanwhile, a masked, monocled sculptress invites guests to her provocative marble garden, to be experienced by touch alone. The rich and the specially invited Elvie are enchanted by the sculpted bodies that can be discerned beneath their hands until one visitor dares to make a deadly discovery. Journalist Helia Skycourt and her stick for hire, Ellie Hench, must find out: is the monocled woman the centre of a death cult, one helping young women to an eternal state? Helia and Ellie race to solve the mystery before the sculptress’s fascination for Elvie seduces Elvie into her marble garden, permanently. With a special appearance by Artifice, artificial ghost and heroine of the steampunk Dark Victorian series, MEDUSA is a gothic, romantic horror set in an 1880, mechanical and supernatural London. An F/F lesbian historical dark romance and gaslamp fantasy. "Masterful. A vivid world of myth, mystery and Victorian magic." ~Felicity Kates, author of the Steam Bunny, The Little Miss Kick-Ass series "A delightful girly-Gothic romance, inventive, sensuous and thrilling; Dracula's Daughter by way of Hellboy. An absolute joy." ~Amelia Mangan, writer of the macabre: Drag Noir, Phobophobias, and the upcoming Release.

I adore this book. Elvie is entirely too perfect and meandering sensuality of the story had me devouring pages. I loved every second of it.

Probably my favorite read from the first batch of Rainbow Awards stories. This combines some of my favorite things: romance, adventure, reimagined mythology (yes, that is genuinely one of my favorite things), steampunk and a certain Gothic air, all written together with wit and imagination. Elvie is a fascinating character, and the subtle callbacks to the first book in this series don’t detract, they just make me want to go read more by this author. Fantastic world, great storytelling, and characters that stick with you.

Impressive Victorian era Gothic, Steampunk, and not watching the series Penny Dreadful I can't say how much that comes into play but I was able to read the story even though it is book 4 in a series it stands on it's own.

After breaking his arm on set, Wolf’s Landing stuntman Ginsberg Sloan finds himself temporarily out of work. Luckily, Bluewater Bay’s worst B&B has cheap long-term rates, and Ginsberg’s not too proud to take advantage of them.Derrick Richards, a grizzled laid-off logger, inherited the B&B after his parents’ untimely deaths. Making beds and cooking sunny-side-up eggs is hardly Derrick’s idea of a man’s way to make a living, but just as he’s decided to shut the place down, Ginsberg shows up on his doorstep, pitiful and soaking wet, and Derrick can hardly send him packing.Not outright, at least.The plan? Carry on the B&B’s tradition of terrible customer service and even worse food until the pampered city boy leaves voluntarily. What Derrick doesn’t count on, though, is that the lousier he gets at hosting, the more he convinces bored, busybody Ginsberg to try to get the B&B back on track. And he definitely doesn’t count on the growing attraction between them, or how much more he learns from Ginsberg than how to put out kitchen fires.

Honestly, this book blew me away and that's not easy to do. It was hilarious at times and poignant at others and just such a joy to read. It kept me up into the early morning hours until I couldn't keep my eyes open to read "just one more scene." I nearly ran into a bridge support on my daily walk because I couldn't put my phone away to stop reading the book. I loved how Ginsberg's gender, while being an issue...wasn't THE issue. The story was more about Derrick coming to terms with his own sexuality and what that meant in his world. And everything was just so well done. The sex was perfect. The reactions were perfect.. Derrick coming to terms with his parent's death and how well loved he actually is...perfect. And Ginsberg was perfect. I couldn't think of *anything* I would change, hence my score.

Ah, this book had two great characters that I was rooting for the whole way through. Wonderful little book.

Really well written - beautiful characterization.

This was a sweet story exploring a relationship which was very different for one of the MCs, Derrick, who proved to be a kindly man who gained insight into his own past and character as the book went on. His boyfriend Ginsberg, was also patient and kind in how he made allowances for the new situation his partner found himself in. The B&B itself was another character in the story. I don't know how realistic the sex scenes were, but they were nicely unsensational, and gave me food for thought.

Ginsberg, badass stunt double for the star of the show-within-the-book, caught my attention in the first of the Bluewater Bay stories. Ginsberg is a force of nature, and the contrast between his personality and verve, and Derrick's curmudgeonly (yet oddly innocent) viewpoint is highly entertaining.

As the German Blitzkrieg brings the Soviet Union to its knees in 1942, a regiment of women aviators flies out at night in flimsy aircraft without parachutes or radios to harass the Wehrmacht troops. The Germans call them “Night Witches” and the best of them is Lilya Drachenko. From the other end of the world, photojournalist Alex Preston arrives to “get the story” for the American press and witnesses sacrifice, hardship, and desperate courage among the Soviet women that is foreign to her. So also are their politics. While the conservative journalist and the communist Lilya clash politically, Stalingrad, the most savage battle of the 20th century, brings them together, until enemy capture and the lethal Russian winter tears them apart again.

The story comes alive vividly - the suspense kept me reading long into the night and late in the morning.

A highly dramatic and engrossing tale of a small band of Russian women pilots during WWII who risked their lives flying sorties over Germany in rattle-trap airplanes without a parachute, without the benefit of daylight. The love story is quite profound by virtue of the connection that exists between one of the aviators and an American war correspondent photographer. Despite their inability to be together very often, the women share a soul mate level of inner reflection, one to the other. A can’t-put-it-down action tale of war, love, disillusionment and redemption.

The Witch of Stalingrad is the story of women pilots in the Russian army during World War II. The story is extremely well researched, and the historical details are woven into the story so that you feel you're there, not being given a history lesson. I loved reading about such intelligent, strong, and brave women. The relationship that grows between the two main character adds luster to the story, but it doesn't overpower each woman's story or character. If there were no love story, this would still be a great book. Well done!

Canidae private investigator Ariadne Willow and her girlfriend Dale have had a hectic couple of years, dealing with murderous clients while attempting to stop an all-out war between hunters and wolves. After stopping the onset of wolf manoth, Ari decides it’s well past time that she and Dale take a vacation. Two weeks of rest and relaxation at the cabin where their relationship went from business to romance sounds like exactly what the doctor ordered. Dale hopes the opportunity to slow down will ease some of the pain Ari has been suffering from her transformations.Their plans are thrown for a loop when Ari goes for a run and stumbles over the body of a dead girl hidden deep in the woods near the cabin. When she returns with the police the body has vanished and the scene hastily cleaned up. The police don’t see any evidence to confirm Ari’s claims but her enhanced canidae senses confirm the body was there and has vanished. With the police refuse to investigate based only on her word, Ari and Dale begin digging for the truth and quickly learn that the and there are some secrets people will go to any lengths to keep buried.

The author has created an interesting story but quite different from other Shapeshifter novels I've read. The ability to change from human to animal is both a blessing and a curse for the main character but not in the typical manner readers would expect. Character development was extremely good. I could almost feel the 'pain' of Ari, and the love and compassion of her partner Dale as well as Ari's. I believe this is a story that paranormal readers will enjoy.

The mystery thriller is average, but as paranormal is strong. Not having read the first 3 books in the series I was still able to follow along.

Justine Laraby and Kemina Lopez are intimate acquaintances yet they have never exchanged so much as a single word. For months, high school senior Justine, and famed model, “Kemina, the Baby Vixen” of Nightingale Lingerie, have been peering at each other across a narrow alley between brownstones in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. This mutual observation soon turns into the exchange of handwritten messages on signs they hold up whenever they come to their bedroom windows. Via this “sign language,” a friendship grows, and Justine learns that Kemina is, like her, a high school senior, but with a controlling mother and a modeling career that requires her to maintain an unnaturally thin physique. And through the window, she also witnesses her new friend exercising fanatically, hoarding food, and being physically and emotionally abused by her ambitious mother. Window messages evolve into clandestine meetings and soon a tentative romance blooms. But Justine must come to terms with her own “mommy issues,” as well as accept her gender identity and sexual orientation, before she can provide Kemina with the support she needs to survive a family life that resembles a ruthless business transaction. Will Justine be strong enough to throw open the window so Kemina can escape society’s suffocating expectations? This Young Adult lesbian romance is comparable to Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters and The Gravity Between Us by Kristen Zimmer

Warmhearted and eloquent this novel tells the story of Jussy, the tomboy, and Kemina, the ultrafemme and model. It touches on many subjects important to YA - fitting in, body image, dysfunctional family relations, loyalty. It was a great read indeed.

For once, Ira Adler has it easy. He has money in his pocket, a comfortable arrangement with an undemanding young man, and no one's punched, chased, or shot at him in years. Suddenly, an explosion turns everything upside down.Eager to leave London, Ira accompanies his friends to America to settle a family matter. But though a handsome lawman and a trip aboard a luxurious ocean liner provide welcome distraction, Ira soon finds himself embroiled in a plot that stretches from London's back alleys to the dusty dirt roads of California. Before he knows it, Ira is up to his neck in train robbers, rattlesnakes, unscrupulous cattle kings, and persistent young women driven to frenzy by his exotic accent.Just when he's ready to flee back to Britain, Ira gets a fistful of second chances. But London is calling. Will Ira answer? Or will he embrace a new life abroad?

So good - an exciting page turner. Innovative in using both Victorian London and the pioneering days of America. Well drawn - interesting to have a black man in such an important role, but he was just accepted. Quite a lot of characters with in depth relationships between them which gave the book depth. This book was the third in a series, but I didn't find it a problem. It was an exciting and fast moving plot with lots of intricacy, although there was some reliance on coincidence (acknowledged in the story). I liked the adventure taking more time than the relationship. Well written, good description, vocabulary and grammar made for an excellent read.

Taut, intriguing, companionable—three words to describe the reader experience of Fool’s Gold. In this beautifully written story, we find, as we always do, that all that sparkles is not gold. What we lose in the discovery makes Faraday’s theme of what we gain in the recovery all the more satisfying.

I read the series for context before tackling this one as it was on my tbr pile anyway. I found this final book a little less satisfying than the first two - which would have been solid 40s. Maybe the switch of the London characters to the Wild West didn't work, because I never felt the setting fit the characters very well, while well described. However, the main character, Ira Adler, develops throughout this series from a kept boy into a strong, moral, inspirational man. The side characters are equally as familiar and very well described and fleshed out. The plot slowed a bit midway (only a little), but it was enough to mark it down by a point. I'd happily read anything by Jess Faraday now, however, because ze can obviously write very good historical mystery fiction.

This story started out with a bang, literally! This period adventure takes place in London, across the ocean to America, and then across the vast lands to California. Ira Adler just wanted a quiet life, but life and the ensuing adventure to accompany his best friends to the Wild West of the U.S., made his life anything but! This tale was one adventure after another--following Ira Adler like a shadow. The story telling never got boring and kept my attention as I quickly turned from page to the next to see what happened next!

Third in series but standalone, maybe fourth book coming? but complete with ending; excellent in all ways possible.

Rabbits of the Apocalypse is set in a not-too-distant future plagued with drought, human trafficking, rabid religious groups, and people who completely lack a sense of humor. What with all the hunger, chaos, sunstroke, landmines, and radiation it's hard to get by, and harder still to get laid. In the remote desert town of Lafontaine, Casey Prentice has been trying to survive the endtimes by keeping her head down and refusing to give a damn about anyone except her younger sister Emily and wingman Malice Hiroyama. But that ceases to be an option when a powerful and mysterious entity known as the Anastasian League descends on the town. Casey offers shelter to genius Pax, who is trying to escape the League. In doing so, she invites a whole new kind of danger into her life on top of a budding romance. The town of Lafontaine has a secret . . . and if the League discovers it, then the apocalypse will be the least of Casey's worries.

Rabbits of the Apocalypse is a bit unique with an interesting writing style. Normally, I'm not one that likes to read First Person manuscripts but found this one fascinating. The novel has an almost perverse sense of humor which was intriguing for such a depressing setting. I'm not sure if the story was meant to be serious, funny or both. Whether intentional or not, the author accomplished both. It will be interesting to read reviews from others once they have taken Benny Lawrence's journey into the future, and a strange journey, it is.

Rabbits of the Apocalypse is a story unlike any other I've read, bursting with sass and heart. I laughed, I teared up, and I sank deep into the world of narrator Casey Prentice. Casey's unique flaws and talents set her apart, and her pluck and nihilism constantly vie for supremacy as the apocalyptic wasteland in which she lives grinds her down. The twists are good, and the sparky, witty dialogue and narration is even better. Any fan of dystopian fiction and devil-may-care protagonists owes it to themselves to read this book.

This book sucked me in… it was great.

Very good post-apocalyptic science fiction novel with believable world-building and engaging characters. Lawrence goes a really nice job with character voice as well.

Runners Up:2. The Caphenon by Fletcher DeLancey 3. Journey To You by A.J. Adaire

LGBT Biography / Memoir (The Dirk Vanden Award for Best LGBT Biography/Memoir)Bad Dyke: Salacious Stories from a Queer Life by Allison MoonMemoirs of the Happy Lesbian Housewife by Lorraine HowellMy Body Is Yours by Michael V. Smith (FINALIST)Nights at Rizzoli by Felice Picano (FINALIST)Show Trans by Elliott DeLineThe Girls of Usually by Lori HorvitzTurkey Street, Jack and Liam move to Bodrum by Jack Scott (FINALIST)We Came Alive in '75 by Pat Deihl

Bisexual RomanceA Hard Ride Home by Emory Vargas (FINALIST)A Year in the Life by Cat Grant (FINALIST)Always Been You by Jess BuffettBuchanan House by Charley DescoteauxCrying in the Rain by Debbie McGowanKneel, Mr. President by Lauren Gallagher (FINALIST)Moments In Time: Books 1-3 by Karen StivaliSmoky Mountain Dreams by Leta Blake (FINALIST)Temptations of Desire by Tempeste O’RileyThe Harem Master by Megan Derr (FINALIST)The Heart of the Kingdom by Sasha L. Miller (FINALIST)

Gay Young AdultA Man's Man by Genta Sebastian (FINALIST)A Scout is Brave by Jay Jordan Hawke (FINALIST)After The End by Sara York (FINALIST)Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan (FINALIST)Freshman Blues by Ravon Silvius (FINALIST)Inclination by Mia Kerick (FINALIST)Love Spell by Mia Kerick (FINALIST)rock by Anyta Sunday (FINALIST)Slaying Isidore's Dragons by C. Kennedy (FINALIST)The Glass House by Suki Fleet (FINALIST)Willem of the Tafel by Hans M. Hirschi

Lesbian Contemporary General FictionA Small Country about to Vanish by Victoria Avilan (FINALIST)All We Lack by Sandra Moran (FINALIST)Because of Summer by Elle Vaughn (FINALIST)Blowback by Bev Prescott (FINALIST)Endless Days of Summer by Stacy O'Steen (FINALIST)Everything by Carole Wolf (FINALIST)Girls In Ice Houses by Linda MorgansteinGood Water by Kayt Peck (FINALIST)In the Stillness of Dawn by Laurie SalzlerKid by Doreen PerrineSandcastles by Suzie Carr (FINALIST)Sharpshooter by Leslie MurrayThe Language of Hoofbeats by Catherine Ryan Hyde (FINALIST)The Paths of Marriage by Mala Kumar (FINALIST)This Time Now by KT GrantThreads of the Heart by Jeannie Levig (FINALIST)To Love Again by B.L. Clark (FINALIST)Turning for Home by Caren J. Werlinger (FINALIST)When It Raynes by C.D. Cain (FINALIST)Wishbone by Elaine Burnes (FINALIST)

Best Lesbian DebutA Story of Now by Emily O'BeirneAll the little Moments by G BensonBarring Complications by Blythe RipponEndless Days of Summer by Stacy O'SteenFinding Home by Shelia Powell & Liz McMullenFuture Promises by Sandy DuggerGood Water by Kayt PeckHurt by Lila BruceJade by Skylar WoodJolt by Kris BryantMemoirs of the Happy Lesbian Housewife by Lorraine HowellNever Too Late by Julie BlairNo Thru Road by Linda M. VogtRiding the Rainbow by Genta SebastianSculpting Anna by Venus ReisingSharpshooter by Leslie MurraySoiled – A Shannon Patrick Landscape Mystery by Lin PhillippiStruck! A Titanic Love Story by Tonie ChaconThe Art of Peeling an Orange by Victoria AvilanThe Caphenon by Fletcher DeLanceyThe Paths of Marriage by Mala KumarThe Peach and the Poppy by Caesar J.M. KauftheilThe Revelation of Beatrice Darby by Jean CopelandThe Surrender by Terias McKlayThreads of the Heart by Jeannie LevigTo Love Again by B.L. ClarkTwice Lucky by Mardi AlexanderUndone by E.M. HodgeWe Came Alive in '75 by Pat DeihlWhen It Raynes by C.D. CainWishbone by Elaine BurnesWithout Your Courage by TJ Whittle

Best Gay DebutBarren by Anna HedleyBehind Locked Doors by Nicholas KinsleyBlue Paramour by Louise Ligon & Hunter MaineCafe Eisenhower by Richard NataleCall Me Home by Megan KruseCalvin's Head by David SwatlingChained in Darkness (New Haven #1) by Nicholas BellaCharlie’s Hero by Nic StarrDaydreamers by Jonathan HarperEmpty Nests (Nested Hearts #1) by Ada Maria SotoEverything Changes by Melanie HansenGreen Eyes --- an erotic novel (sort-of) by Michael AmpersantI'll Still Be There by Keelan EllisIn the Middle of Somewhere by Roan ParrishLove for the Cold-Blooded Or: The Part-Time Evil Minion’s Guide to Accidentally Dating a Superhero by Alex GabrielLower Education by A.M. LeibowitzMemory by Doug LloydMost Beautiful Words by Raine O’TierneyMy Zombie Boyfriend by T. StrangeNobody’s Hero by J. Leigh BaileyPalace Dog by R.E. NelsonShuttered by Emma JaneSpectacularly Broken by Sage C. HollowayStarling (Love In Los Angeles #1) by Racheline Maltese & Erin McRaeStealing Arthur by Joel PerryThe 10 Year book by JC CalcianoThe HomePort Journals by A.C. BurchThe Quartermaster & The Marquis' Son by A.E. KendallThe Sum of Everything by April KelleyThreefold Love by Ki BrightlyTreading Water by Kate PavelleTrust the Focus by Megan EricksonWhat you are by Erin E. KellerWolves of Black Pine by S.J. HimesZebra-striped Briefs (3 novellas as 1 submission) by C.C. Dado

"Air de Capri" is a 1923 painting by Gerda Wegener, with Gerda herself and her husband, transgender male to female, Lili Elbe

All books submitted to the Rainbow Awards are assigned to 7 judges. Each judge rates the book 1 to 40. Final rate is the average of the previous 7 rates. Books with a final rate equal or above 30 out of possible 40 are Finalists.

Winners will be announced on December 8th. Winners and Runners Up are books with a rate equal or above 30.

Below Finalists in alphabethical order:

"Rainbow Pride Cheesecake" is the official pin-up boy of the Rainbow Awards especially created by Paul Richmond

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